Air Bubble

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of this invention relate to emergency breathing devices and more particularly relate to air containments for use while under water. In a typical water and underwater recreational activity, a user may find himself in need of air. Air Bubble is an air- and water-impermeable reservoir intended for use under water. Similar ideas have been contrived in an attempt to extend the breathing time of a fully buried avalanche victim by extracting the oxygen out of the snow. Other devices employ oxygen tanks in order to provide additional oxygen to the user; however, these devices do not contain a reservoir with stored air. Similar ideas can be found for the purpose of drinking water or other liquids while exercising outdoors, but those bags serve a different purpose than the Air Bubble; they are for drinking liquids, while the Air Bubble is for accessing stored breathable air while under water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT NotApplicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

AirBubble allows for several air breaths under water, depending on thesize of the AirBubble and the user's lung capacity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Air Bubble is an apparatus that consists of an air- andwater-impermeable reservoir inflated with air via an external air pump,and the air is stored so that a user can take several breaths of airunder water. The air- and water-impermeable reservoir is inflated by anexternal air pump via the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is connected to anair channel, which is connected to the air- and water-impermeablereservoir. Inside the air- and water-impermeable reservoir arereinforcing ribs with evenly spaced holes in each rib to allow air flowwithin the reservoir. The reinforcing ribs also serve to shape the AirBubble to the user's body, as well as add an impact-resistantcapability. Air is released from the air- and water-impermeablereservoir through the air-transfer channel to the user when pressure isapplied to the mouthpiece's exterior walls by the user's mouth. The air-and water-impermeable reservoir can be reinflated with an air pump forrepeated use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, amore particular description of the invention briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that areillustrated in the drawing. Understanding that this drawing depicts onlytypical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to beconsidered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawing, in which:

1. Mouthpiece

2. Air-Transfer Channel

3. Air- and Water-Impermeable Reservoir

4. Reinforcing Ribs

5. Evenly-Spaced Holes

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of the Air Bubble and its interior andexterior components.

1. Mouthpiece—the TPU (commercially available material) mouthpiece willrelease the air when pressure is applied to the exterior walls by user'smouth. The mouthpiece is in fluid communication with the air- andwater-impermeable reservoir. The mouthpiece releases stored air throughthe air transfer channel upon applied pressure to the mouthpiece'sexterior walls via user's mouth.

2. Air Transfer Channel—the TPU (material commercially available)channel coupled to the mouthpiece and the air- and water-impermeablereservoir, allowing air to pass from the reservoir to the mouthpiece.

3. Air- and Water-Impermeable Reservoir—the TPU (material commerciallyavailable) reservoir that stores air when filled with an air pump(commercially available).

4. Reinforcing Ribs—the TPU (material commercially available) ribs areimpact-resistant and have evenly spaced holes for airflow within theair- and water-impermeable reservoir; the reinforcing ribs also shapethe air- and water-impermeable reservoir to the user's body.

FIG. 2 depicts a cut-through-section view of the air- andwater-impermeable reservoir.

4. Reinforcing Rib—the TPU (material commercially available) rib shapethe Air Bubble to the user's body, and add an impact-resistantcapability to the Air Bubble. The three evenly-spaced holes allow airflow within the air- and water-impermeable reservoir.

5. Evenly-Spaced Holes—the three evenly-spaced holes allow air flowwithin the air- and water-impermeable reservoir.

1. An apparatus to store air for underwater use, the apparatuscomprising: an air- and water-impermeable reservoir comprisingreinforcing ribs, the reinforcing ribs possessing evenly spaced holes ineach to allow air-flow within the reservoir, the air- andwater-impermeable reservoir located either externally or internallywithin a backpack, wetsuit, or flotation device (all commerciallyavailable); a mouthpiece (commercially available) in fluid communicationwith the air- and water-impermeable reservoir via an air transferchannel, the air- and water-impermeable reservoir is filled with air viaan air pump (commercially available) through the mouthpiece prior touse, the mouthpiece releases stored air from the air- andwater-impermeable reservoir in response to applied pressure to themouthpiece's exterior walls via the user's mouth; an air-transferchannel coupled to the air- and water-impermeable reservoir and themouthpiece, the mouthpiece releasing stored air from the reservoirthrough the air-transfer channel in response to applied pressure to themouthpiece's exterior walls via the user's mouth.